For me, this would be the order more or less...
Pixies (4 absolutely brilliant studio records)
Sonic Youth (The longest career. They are respected in almost all scenes)
Pavement (For two first awesome albums, and the rest that are still good)
Joy Division (I wouldnīt call them indie but great influencing band)
Yo La Tengo (These means underground in indie)
Stone Roses (Incredible debut, nice second... but unfortunately thatīs all)
Teenage Fan Club (I Liked them when they used more electricity)
Death Cab For Cuttie (Sometimes a very teenage-like band. I love Transatlaticism)
Modest Mouse (Only have last record but itīs like mixig Pixies with The Clash. Very very good one)
Franz Ferdinand (Very refreshing but they still have to make a point in their second record)
The Charlatans UK (They are original but their music donīt say too much to me)
Belle And Sebastian (Too limp for me)
Built To Spill, Flaming Lips and Grandaddy: Only heard singles... so I canīt opine.
Iīd add Dinosaur Jr., Weezer, Hüsker Dü, Blur (well, they have an indie side) and Pulp, for example. In fact, I like indie-rock with transgresive music or lyrics more than indie-pop.

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